Suntory Oceania names Ashish Gandham managing director to lead premium spirits growth across Australia and New Zealand.
NEW ZEALAND – Suntory Oceania has appointed Ashish Gandham as Managing Director of Suntory Global Spirits – Oceania, strengthening its leadership team as the group accelerates growth across the region.
In his new role, Gandham will work alongside Dai Minato, Chief Executive Officer of Suntory Beverage & Food Oceania, overseeing a diverse portfolio of premium spirits and ready-to-drink brands. These include Japanese whiskies, the -196 ready-to-drink range, Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark and Canadian Club.
Gandham joins the Oceania business from Singapore, where he currently serves as Managing Director of Suntory Global Spirits’ Global Travel Retail division.
He brings more than 20 years of experience in the fast-moving consumer goods sector, having held senior commercial and marketing roles at Diageo across India, Singapore and London. He began his career at Johnson & Johnson in marketing and sales functions.
Commenting on his appointment, Gandham said: “It’s a privilege to lead the Suntory team in Oceania at a pivotal time for our business in the region. With a strong local presence and a diverse portfolio of beloved brands, we want to be known for being the best in the industry, and the preferred spirits partner for our customers. I’m genuinely excited to embark on this new era for Suntory Global Spirits in this vibrant market.”
Susumu Tada, APAC President of Suntory Global Spirits, said Gandham’s appointment marked a key milestone for the company’s regional ambitions.
“Ashish’s appointment represents an important step for Suntory in Oceania as he leads our growth initiatives in the region,” Tada said. “By uniting our Suntory portfolios and teams, we are well-positioned to enhance our growth and deliver greater value to our customers.”
The formation of Suntory Oceania positions the group as the fourth-largest multi-beverage operator in the region, with responsibility spanning premium spirits, ready-to-drink beverages, soft drinks, juices, coffee and energy drinks.
Johnny Morgan, Senior Marketing Director of Suntory Global Spirits – Oceania, highlighted the group’s manufacturing strength.
“Our combined manufacturing footprint across Australia and New Zealand complements our global production network, which includes distilleries and bottling facilities in North America, Europe and Japan,” he said.
Morgan added that the integration would “drive genuine innovation and foster stronger collaboration with our trade partners, allowing us to sustainably expand our core categories.”
